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**Rishabh Pant Faces Significant T20I Return Challenge Ahead of IPL 2025: “No Need to Compete with Sanju Samson”**
In a landmark moment for Rishabh Pant’s cricketing journey, he will lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025 as they face off against his previous team, the Delhi Capitals, who released him prior to the monumental auction.
**Published by NDTV Sports Desk**
**Date: March 18, 2025, 12:14 PM IST**
**Reading Duration: Approximately 2 minutes**
Rishabh Pant’s future participation in India’s T20I squad hangs in the balance as he prepares for the crucial IPL 2025 season. As a marquee acquisition for LSG, secured for an unprecedented sum of INR 27 crore at the IPL mega auction, Pant is poised to prove his mettle during the tournament. Despite his past successes, Pant has been sidelined from the T20I scene since July 2024, even as India triumphed in the Champions Trophy without him.
Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra underscores the opportunity at hand for Pant, who is expected to demonstrate exceptional form in this year’s IPL to reignite his prospects for the national team. On his YouTube channel, Chopra elaborated, “Rishabh Pant has an enormous chance to re-establish himself. Currently, he’s not part of the T20 squad’s central plans, and many wonder why his talent hasn’t secured him a consistent role. This IPL season is his stage to change that narrative by amassing runs at an impressive rate.”
Chopra advised Pant to focus on creating his own distinctive space within the team, rather than competing directly with contemporaries like Sanju Samson. “Pant should carve out his role—no necessity to bat above the third or fourth position,” said Chopra. “Given a robust start, he can come in as No. 3, supporting the team’s strategic left-handed core at four, five, and six, aggressively challenging every bowler he faces.”
With the T20 World Cup looming, Chopra highlighted that IPL 2025 becomes pivotal for Pant to vie for a place in the national squad, surpassing talents such as Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. He emphasized, “Two objectives stand before Pant: leading his team effectively, enhancing his captaincy credentials, and scoring runs to solidify his case for national selection. The fluid nature of T20 selection means this IPL will heavily influence the composition of next year’s World Cup team.”
In summary, IPL 2025 offers Rishabh Pant an unparalleled opportunity to assert himself both as a captain of a freshly forged franchise and an indispensable batter. This season could be instrumental in reshaping his international career trajectory.
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